Auto show to benefit Torrington DARE program

Officer Steve Pisarski stands next to his 1971 Oldsmobile 442 outside the Torrington Police Department on Wednesday, June 19, 2013. Pisarski is helping organize the Torrington Police Department Auto Show, which will take place on Friday starting at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in Downtown. His car will be in the show, and more than 300 cars are expected. Esteban L. Hernandez Register Citizen

From left: Officer Steven Cloutier, Glenn Royals and officer Steve Pisarski stand outside the Torrington Police Department on Wednesday, June 19, 2013. The three men are helping organize the Torrington Police Department Auto Show, which will take place on Friday starting at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in Downtown. More than 300 cars are expected. Esteban L. Hernandez Register Citizen

TORRINGTON >> Inside the police department headquarters, local businessman and mechanic Glenn Royals taps on a sliding glass window on a counter.

Royals is trying to get the attention of officer Steve Pisarski on the other side. A few moments later, Pisarski approaches the counter and slides open the window.

"We have a ticket that we're upset about," Royals said.

Pisarski smiles. He points to his left.

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"The complaint department is next door," he said to Royals, who laughs.

It doesn't take a detective to know the two men are buddies, and with the help of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer Steven Cloutier, the trio are combining their camaraderie and resources to organize the Torrington Police DARE Car Show on Friday in downtown. The event will feature as many as 400 cars lined up on Main Street, Royals said, and will start at 5 p.m.

Owners who want to showcase their vehicles pay a $10 fee, with the first 200 receiving a dash plaque. Pisarski is the traffic enforcement officer. His role in the auto show is helping reserve the space on Main Street, and without him, Royals said, "we don't get the street without him okaying the street."

"We've been doing this for years," Royals said. "They just asked us to help put on the show together downtown. I'll give anything I can for my community."

Last year's show was rained out several times, Royals said. He said he's expecting 300 to 400 cars this year, but if it rains, the number will be closer to 200. A Rain date has been set for Friday, June 28.

All the proceeds support the DARE programs in Torrington Public Schools. The program is in its 27th year for local schools, Cloutier said. Deputy Chief Chris Smedick also assists in the program, Cloutier said.

"We've got all the Torrington elementary schools involved in it," Cloutier said about DARE. "It's a 10-week program, where we teach about drugs, alcohol and we have lesson plans as far as self-esteem and bullying, which have become even more major topics in the community, so we have added that in also."

He said some people have some misconception about DARE's purpose, and they don't simply teach anti-drug education, but also self-awareness and teaching students about anti-bullying.

"This is a way for us to raise money so we can keep the program running good and strong," Cloutier said about the car show. "We can fund it and get the officers, We have the proper tools to work with as far as literature and everything else."

Royals said the auto show helps pay for the officer's stipend for teaching the program.

"The city has cut the stipend for these guys, so if they don't raise it, they don't get it," Royals said.

Royals said officers like Cloutier, Pisarski and Smedick bust their tales to make the show and the program a reality.

"You know what, without them, we're done," Royals said. "These guys carry it all through." During the show, some of the officers volunteer by cooking hot dogs, and most of the material--including the food and the kitchen to cook it--is donated by local businesses.

Trophies are also handed out for 12 different categories, and each is sponsored by local businesses, Cloutier said. He said all expenses for the show have been covered by donations.

"It's all good businesses, and they hand out the stuff. They know we have no money, and we don't want to spend money on things like this, we want to spend it on the kids," Royals said.

Both Cloutier and Pisarski will have cars featured in the show. Pisarski's vehicle is a flexing muscle car: A blood-red, 1971 Oldsmobile 442. Cloutier has a more modern but equally striking vehicle in his navy-blue 2011 Chevy Camaro, complete with racing stripes. Royals vehicle is another muscle car; he will be bringing along his Chevy Chevelle SS 396 convertible.

"At the end of the day, it's all about the kids, that's why we do these things," Pisarski said.

Royals also said the event is to help support children and their DARE education.

DARE started in Los Angeles in 1983. It is a police-officer led program that helps kids avoid drug, gang and violence involvement through classroom lessons, according to their website. It's implemented in 75 percent of school districts nationwide.